Bathtub appliance



NOV. 19, 1940. R. GRAVES 2,222,070

BATHTUB APPLIANCE Filed June 16, 1959 I V EN TOR. Pefieam firm a5 ill Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES.

PATENT orrics This invention relates to a bathtub appliance and it is one object of the invention to provide a device which may be set into a tub and constitute means for supporting a baby or small child while administering a bath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including a frame adapted to be temporarily disposed in a tub and supported therein by legs, the legs being of such construction and so connected with end bars of the frame that they may be disposed in either 9. depending vertical position for use, or swung upwardly to a folded position in which they are within the plane of the frame and reduce the device to a compact mass permitting it to be placed flat against a wall when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to so conheat the legs with end bars of the frame that when the legs are swung to a depending position or a folded position they will be firmly held by members held in interlocking engagement with each other by the resiliency of the legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide the device with a frame of such construction that it may be longitudinally adjusted to fit the tub in which it is used and also accommodate itself to the size of the child being bathed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hammock or sling formed of soft fabric or other pliable material and having strips adjustably'connected with tub engaging hooks in an improved manner so that the strips may be adjusted and the hammock so suspended from the frame that the child will be comfortably supported out of contact with the bottom of'the tub.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including not only a frame and a hammock suspended therefrom but also a dressing table formed of material similar to that of the hammock and so carried by the frame that it may be shifted longitudinally thereof into and out of position for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction, easy to adjust and set up ready for use,

and capable of being cheaply manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

The invention is illustrated ing drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the frame, the hammock and dressing table being removed therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the hammock and the dressing table applied to the frame.

in the accompany- Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the device in a tub ready for use.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the manner in which the supporting strips of the hammock are adjustably connected with the frame engaging hooks.

This improved device is primarily intended for use when administering a bath to a baby or other small child, but it is to be understood that it may be used in hospitals or in a home for administering medical treatments during which the patient must be partially or entirely submerged in medicated water or the like.

The frame, which is indicated in general by the numeral I, consists of companion U-shaped sections 2 and 3 formed of metal tubing, the tubing of which the sections are formed being of such diameter that the arms of the section 2 20 will snugly receive the arms of the section 3 and thus provide telescoping engagement between the two sections. Set screws 4 are threaded through openings in arms of the section 2 and when screwed into tight gripping engagement with arms of the section 3, serve to firmly but releasably hold the sections in adjusted position to provide a frame of predetermined length. This also permits the frame to be reduced to a minimum length when it is not-in use and thus allow it to be stored in a small space.

The legs 5 are also formed of metal tubing and are of U-shaped formation, and about their bridge portions are disposed sleeves B of rubber tubing. The rubber sleeves or tubes 6 serve to prevent the frame from marring the enamel ilnish of the tub I and also prevent the frame from sliding along the bottom of the tub out of proper position therein. The legs are of resilient metal and their arms 5 carry coupler sleeves 8 which fit loosely about the cross bars or bridge portions of the end sections 2 and 3 of the frame. By so mounting the legs they may be swung from the depending position for use shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to the folded position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. Pins 9 are mounted vertically through openings formed in the cross bars or bridge portions of the end sections 2 and 3 of the frame and upper ends of these pins project from the frame for engagement in the notches or recesses l0 formed in the sleeves. By springing the arms of the legs toward each other the pins will be moved out of the notches. to allow the legs to be swung upwardly to folded position and when the legs are swung downwardly to depending position for supporting the frame in elevated relation to the bottom of the tub, the pins will snap into the notches and firmly hold the legs against movement out of upright position. This eliminates danger of the legs moving out of upright position and allowing the frame to collapse during use of the device.

The hammock or sling H which supports the baby or small child, is formed of soft fabric or other pliable material found suitable and is provided with side strips I2 and end strips 13 which carry engaging hooks I. These hooks are formed from strips of strong metal having their outer portions curved to provide bills I5 for engaging over the side arms of the sections 2 and 3 and the cross bar or bridge of the section 3, so that the hammock will be suspended from the frame, as shown in Fig. 3. The strips l2 and i3 must be longitudinally adjusted so that the hammock will be properly supported in position to hold the childs head raised above the level of the Water in the tub and, in order to do so, the shank or inner end portion of each hook is formed with transversely extending slots i6 through which the companion strip is threaded, as shown in Fig. 5. The strips may be adjusted through the slots of the hooks but since they are passed outwardly and then inwardly, a good biting action will take place and the strips will not be liable to slip through the slots when subjected to strain created by the weight of the child occupying the hammock. Since the strips 13 extend diagonally upward, as shown in Fig. 3, the hammock will be braced against shifting longitudinally of the frame.

There has also been provided a dressing table I! formed of soft fabric or other suitable pliable material. This dressing table is provided with side hooks l8 and an end hook IQ for engaging over the side arms of the frame section 2 and the end bar or bridge thereof. When the hammock is in use the table I1 is disposed in a collapsed position at the left hand end of the frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. After the baby has been washed, the mother or nurse removes the baby from the tub and while holding it in her left arm, slides the hammock to a collapsed position at the right hand end of the frame or entirely removes it from the frame. The table is then drawn toward the right to an extended position, in which it will be held substantially flat between the side bars of the frame and places the baby thereon. The baby may then be powdered and dressed and then placed in its crib. The table and hammock will then be hung up to dry and the frame collapsed and set against a wall where it will be out of the way until again needed.

Clothing and towel supports 20 are anchored into the U shaped sections 2 and 3. When the frame is collapsed these supports can be removed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame having side bars and end bars, U-shaped legs, sleeves carried by arms of said legs and loosely engaged about the end bars of said frame, and pins carried by said end bars and projecting therefrom, the sleeves being formed with recesses constituting seats for receiving said pins and holding the legs in depending relation to the frame for supporting the same, and said legs being formed of resilient material adapting their arms to be sprung into and out of position to dispose the pins in the recesses.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame having side bars and end bars, legs having sleeves engaged about the end bars and mounting the legs for swinging movement from a folded position to a depending position for supporting the frame, and pins carried by the end bars, said sleeves being formed with seats for receiving said pins and securing the legs in set position.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame having side bars and end bars, legs having sleeves engaged about the end bars and mounting the legs for swinging movement from a folded position to a depending position for support ing the frame, and latching means for releasably holding said legs in set positions, said legs being formed of resilient material whereby the sleeves may be sprung into and out of position for latching engagement by the latching means.

REBECCA GRAVES. 

